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Parenting

cleaning baby's teeth

9 replies

littlesthobo · 11/02/2008 11:46

Anyone got any hot tips on teeth cleaning? DS is 9 months old and has 6 teeth. I used to use one of those thimble thingies, but can't stand the pain any more. Now have conventional toothbrush but he grabs it and chews away - I can only get at them sporadically. Thanks!

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Poppychick · 11/02/2008 12:30

With my DD we ended up pinning her down and going for it!

So far with DS (13mths and 4 teeth) he does grab but not so much that I'm not getting them done.

How about giving him another toothbrush to 'play' with while you do the serious brushing?

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StealthPolarBear · 11/02/2008 12:32

I just do the besi I can then give him the brush to chew
Mind you he only has 2 teeth so far

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NoviceKnitter · 11/02/2008 13:57

DD's just hatched her first two teeth. I was planning to do the rubbing with muslin thing...

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PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 11/02/2008 21:01

Them chewing the toothbrush is perfect and fine for months and months yet . Just smidge it with toothpaste and leave him to it. Twice a day and away you go. Him chewing does the rest. After a few weeks or months, you'll find you'll be able to do a quick brush of either top or bottom before he objects, a few weeks later you'll be able to do more and so on.

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littlesthobo · 12/02/2008 21:12

Thanks guys - we'll just keep persevering in that case, and will try some of the other techniques suggested. Cheers!

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PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 13/02/2008 08:18

Just try not to let teeth cleaning become stressful - it will affect taking medicine and eating too if he gets a thing about you going in or near his mouth!

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luciemule · 13/02/2008 08:30

When they get a bit older, I found a rota of soft toys 'brushing' thier teeth kept them amused.

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ItsNotOnlyTheGoodBits · 13/02/2008 10:29

Baby boy (18 months) always hated having his teeth brushed - he's not too keen on anything around his face though e.g. water during a bath.

Anyway teeth brushing was always a problem and I would be happy if he chewed on the brush before spitting it out. To be honest at that young age as long as some toothpaste is making its way in should be fine.

When it became a problem (14 month-ish) I just stopped brushing his teeth for a few weeks (so shoot me) and let him watch me every morning. Now he is quite happy to stand there having his teeth brushed morning and evening.

i have a friend who used lie her ds on the changing mat and do it that way.

Don't stress it and it'll be fine in the end.